Introducing New Pullets to Flock?

[Kaiser5000]

Hi friends,

We had 10 pullets . . . Welp, we *thought* we had 10 pullets but it turns out we actually have 7 pullets and 3 cockerals. We are re-homing, with heavy hearts, 2 of the roos and would like to get 2 more started pullets in their place. Our pullets are 11 weeks old and free range during the day, cooped at night. The pullets we are looking to get are a silkie and a white sapphire, both 9 weeks old. Is there a process that we need to go through to ensure that we introduce these 2 safely to the flock? The only chickens that have shown aggression so far have turned out to be roos, of course. The rest are pretty chill.

 

[Mrs. K]

You know, if you are a first year chicken people, I would recommend removing all the roosters, and not adding birds until next year. A all hen flock is a nice way to start. I keep a flock, birds come in and out of my flock, and I like a multi-generational flock. If you don't fill up this year, you can add more next year. If you want eggs, you really don't want all your birds the same age. Young birds lay in the dark days of winter, old birds give bigger eggs.

Roosters often ruin the whole chicken experience for people when the darling becomes the nightmare. Roosters take experience and much more room than a hen. If you have children under the age of 6 I strongly recommend not keeping any roosters this year.

Adding and subtracting from a flock will keep it healthy. Unless you have other silkie hens, I would be leary of adding a silkie to my flock, and I have a lot of experience. Silkies are much smaller birds, and in chicken society, being raised together really is moot. Size, breed, personality and space are what matter.

Chicken math is a real thing, and people tend to think more is better. But what often appears to be a great deal of space, when they are all young, often times is not enough space when they are all full size. What is the size and shape of your coop and run? There are some horrible habits that chickens develop that can be difficult to break when chickens are kept in too small of areas.

You can try the see no touch method, but I really think you would be better, to wait, get a year of experience, then add new ones.

Mrs K

 

[Kaiser5000]

Thanks so much for this thoughtful response! Our main concern was having enough hens for the 1 rooster which is why we were looking to replace the re-homed rooster but what you say makes total sense.

We do have a good bit of space, I think? About a 1/4 acre fenced as their run and their coop is a two story 10 ft by 5 ft area. (Eventually, we would like for them to be able to free range on the whole property, about 2 acres.) Would that be enough room, in your opinion, to keep the roo? Honestly, he is a real looker (a frost white leghorn) and, of course, we have gotten attached like with the others so we are just hating all of this re-homing we are having to do. Also, around these parts the roos are probably going to the dinner table which we are trying to avoid.

 

[Kaiser5000]

Update!

One of the neighbor's roosters (who I really, really like and has never shown any aggression before) just attacked our 16 month old so, yeah, we are taking your advice and re-homing all 3 roos. We will stick with our 7 hens and see about adding some more hens next year. Again, I very much appreciate your advice!

 

[Mrs. K]

Do you have children? Roosters tend to attack children first, then women, then men. Most people totally underestimate the violence of a rooster attack. A small child will take that attack in the face.

Often times the nicest, bravest chicks turn out to be roosters. They are so brave and darling and not afraid of you. People tend to take this as the rooster likes them. However, fear is a sign of respect in chickens, and the rooster having no fear of you, expects you to fear him and thereby show respect. And will begin to attack.

I know the idea of raising something for food is repugnant to a lot of people, but roosters have a very small brain, and are very difficult to train. Being nice to puppies and kittens will make them life long friends, that is not the case for roosters.

Having enough hens will not help. Cockerels are roosters less than a year old, and are very hormonal driven. They will get bigger than the pullets and become sexually interested long before the pullets are ready. They can run the pullets ragged.

They are your chickens, and you can do what you want, but roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience. Adding two more hens will not help. If you can give them away do so, and don't ask any questions. Once they belong to someone else, they are there responsibility.

If you decide to keep them, do get a plan B ready. This needs to be a crate and a long handled fish net, where you can catch an upset rooster. And then remove him from the flock. This needs to be readily available and at hand.

Search the posts for where a darling became the nightmare, or rooster attacks, or spurring. Multiple generational flocks, do IMO produce better roosters, but the darling sitting in your lap right now, often times becomes the demon coming at you with spurs. Not always, but often. Inexperienced people do not often times pick up the clues that the rooster is giving you that he is getting more and more aggressive, and the attack seems to come from no where.

You do have enough room, but I would still go with hens this year, and then possibly adding chicks next year, and if one of those is a rooster, letting the older hens raise him and teach him some manners.

Mrs K

 

[Mrs. K]

I so hope your son was not hurt. But I am glad you are getting rid of the roosters. Wait until your youngest is about 6 to do roosters. If you get blessed with a broody hen, give her some day old sexed chicks. Do that for a couple of years, and then try a rooster.

A good rooster is a joy to have. But they take experience.

 

[Kaiser5000]

I so hope your son was not hurt. But I am glad you are getting rid of the roosters. Wait until your youngest is about 6 to do roosters. If you get blessed with a broody hen, give her some day old sexed chicks. Do that for a couple of years, and then try a rooster.

A good rooster is a joy to have. But they take experience.

Thank you for the reply! We are learning A LOT in this experience and this forum has been priceless. I feel very, very lucky that our babe was just scratched on the arm. It could have been so much worse. I feel like it was a bit of a blessing as it has made it oh-so-much-easier to re-home the roos. It was certainly a little tap on the shoulder from a guardian angel, ha!